A tragic accident claimed the life of a well-known Long Island pediatrician during a family road trip over the weekend. Dr. Monika Woroniecka, 58, a specialist in children’s allergy and immunology at Stony Brook Medicine, fell from a moving Airstream trailer onto State Route 12E in Watertown, state police and family members reported.
The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on Saturday when Dr. Woroniecka, who was in the 2024 silver trailer with her family, fell through the door while still holding onto the handle. Her husband, Robert, 59, was driving the gray 2019 Ram pickup truck that was towing the trailer at the time of the accident.
Eyewitnesses on the road described a terrifying scene as the passenger-side door of the Airstream suddenly swung open, apparently due to wind force, while Dr. Woroniecka was holding onto the handle. The unfortunate woman fell onto the shoulder of the highway, sustaining a fatal head injury.
Emergency services rushed Dr. Woroniecka to Samaritan Medical Center, but she was pronounced dead upon arrival. The accident occurred during the last 20 minutes of a family road trip from Stony Brook, Long Island, where the family resides, according to state troopers.
Dr. Woroniecka had been a part of Stony Brook Medicine since the early 2000s, as per her medical profile. She was known for her dedication to working with children and their families, guiding them through chronic allergy-related conditions. Her profile also mentioned that she was a native Polish speaker, attracting Polish-speaking families from far and wide.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Dr. Woroniecka was known for her love of travel, hiking, and spending time with her family and friends. The family, while confirming her identity and profession to the press, declined to comment further on the tragic incident.